Android app party: Six services to get your files from anywhere

Need to store those essential files somewhere else? These will do the trick.

Whether you use your Android device for business or for personal endeavors, storing some of that data on the limited memory of a handset or a tablet is not always sufficient. Not to mention it’s nice to be able to access those files from either a tablet, a smartphone, or a computer.

Fortunately, there are a plethora of cloud storage services available. Many offer free storage options that can give you a little boost in space, as well as monthly subscriptions for more space than you'll know what to do with. You may already know about Dropbox and Google Docs, but there are other players in the cloud game that offer some of the same features and functionality—and improved security, too. We've compiled a handy list of some of those other services you might want to consider for your Android device.

If you have a favorite cloud service that’s not listed below and is compatible with Android devices, let us know!

MediaFire hooks you up with 50GB of free storage for desktop and mobile devices, though it’s not without a few caveats. Free users are only allowed a maximum individual file size of 200MB, for instance. More features, like enhanced security and secure redundant backups, can be unlocked for a minimum of $1.50 a month, or you can pay $4.50 a month for 250GB of storage and a few extra options. There is also the option to purchase the business version for $24.50 a month, which offers a whopping 1TB of cloud storage.

SugarSync is an especially helpful service for accessing files stored locally on your home or work computer. Simply install the application and point it to the location of the files and folders you’d like synced in the cloud. Services start at $4.99 a month for 30GB, $9.99 a month for 60GB, $14.99 a month for 100GB, $24.99 a month for 250GB, or $39.99 a month for 500GB. There’s also a free version that offers 5GB of storage, with the ability to "earn" extra megabytes of storage by performing simple tasks.

We’ve referred to SpiderOak once as “Dropbox for the security obsessive” and that still rings true. SpiderOak lets users know right away that it will never have access to your password or encryption keys, though that also means the data is not recoverable, so be sure to store that vital information in a safe place. With SpiderOak, users get 2GB of free storage or 100GB for $10 a month ($100 a year). Extra storage can also be purchased at 100GB increments for $10 extra per month (or $100 extra per year).

Box offers 5GB of free storage, or 25GB for $9.99 a month and 50GB for $19.99 a month. Paid users also have a file size limit of 1GB, while free users are limited to 250MB per file. On the Web, users can annotate and e-sign documents with the service and on Android devices. Box also offers features like file encryption and auto log out when the app is closed as well as the ability to save content directly from other apps and to save to an SD card for offline access.

Ubuntu One works somewhat like SugarSync, where users can select specific folders from their computer to automatically upload to the cloud every time a change is made. Ubuntu One also uploads to the cloud any photo that is taken on your Android device, and this includes photos taken with other applications like Instagram.

If you're aching for more than the 5GB of free storage it offers, you can upgrade to 20GB of storage for $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year. Extra storage can also be added at $2.99 for 20GB increments.

Those of you already committed to services like Dropbox or Google Drive can download CloudOn to access your various cloud storage accounts at once. CloudOn supports access to Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and SkyDrive. It also features a built-in Adobe Reader, as well as the ability to open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint to create and edit documents.

Florence Ion
Florence was a former Reviews Editor at Ars, with a focus on Android, gadgets, and essential gear. She received a degree in journalism from San Francisco State University and lives in the Bay Area.

37 Reader Comments

At those prices, you're better off buying a $60 router that does VPN (most cable/ADSL boxes don't, so you have to switch them back to dumb-modem mode, and supply your own router), and log-in remotely to your home media server.

AeroFS and Bittorent Sync are working on sync that doesn't use the cloud for storage. It basically does peer to peer to all of your computers. No mobile client yet but they both plan on it soon. Much more secure than storing data in the cloud on 3rd party servers.

At those prices, you're better off buying a $60 router that does VPN (most cable/ADSL boxes don't, so you have to switch them back to dumb-modem mode, and supply your own router), and log-in remotely to your home media server.

It's a good thought, however that's assuming you have a home media server. For those of us who don't, and also have data limits not just on their phone, but home internet as well, a cloud storage solution is more practical and convenient, not to mention affordable.

I use the free version of SugarSync. With the extra freebie storage I have about 7GB. I've been really happy with the service -- so much so that I'm strongly considering selling my Synology Diskstation and buying extra storage so I can put my media files on SugarSync, too.

(Yes, I'd still keep a physical backup, but I wouldn't need such a robust solution.)

I figured out today that I have 20+ GB in cloud storage - iCloud - 5Gb, Google - 5Gb, LogMeIn Cubby - 5Gb, SkyDrive (personal acct) - 7Gb, SkyDrive (school acct) - 7Gb. I use Google drive the most, because it's the easiest and I can import my docs into Notability for my iPad. One feature of SkyDrive that I haven't decided if I like yet or not (it has saved my bacon, but I'm leery of the security holes it opens) is that it can access any file on any of my computers that are registered with the account. I've got a fairly secure password with both SkyDrive accounts, but as I am an Information Security professional, I am nervous at the access it provides.

I'm tempted to build a separate system with gobs of storage on it, load up W7 or 2k8 server on it, and set it up as my own personal cloud using SkyDrive as the access, unless I can find or write a more secure and easier method of access.

The one thing I would like, though, is a single app that can access all of those cloud based storage. It bugs me that I have to access each one individually, and since I haven't got things synced up the way I want yet, it takes too long to find the specific file I'm looking for. I'll take a look at ES - I've only ever used it for local browsing on my Android phone, so I didn't know it would do anything else. Thanks for the tip.

I have 41 GB of free storage on Dropbox (got a bunch from the university-targeted Space Race and 10 GB from a recruiting info session). My university provides 20 GB of enterprise-level Box storage. And my personal SkyDrive is 20 GB. Plus Google Drive, which I never use.

The one thing I would like, though, is a single app that can access all of those cloud based storage. It bugs me that I have to access each one individually, and since I haven't got things synced up the way I want yet, it takes too long to find the specific file I'm looking for.

Otixo (otixo.com) works well for this. When I signed up it gave a list of compatible services... made it really easy to just visit all of them and get their free plans. I think in all I have around 100GB of free storage now - I have a free lifetime 50GB box account from an iOS promotion, 25GB from an opt-in on skydrive, 6GB on Dropbox, 5GB in Google Drive, 5GB in CX, 5GB in SugarSync and a few from Ubuntu One, and all of the services are linked with otixo.

Unfortunately, there's a 2GB per month bandwidth limit for otixo (unless you pay), but I honestly don't know if I'll ever encounter the limit. I mostly just store documents in the cloud.

I used to be very happy with SugarSync, especially the push-to-device syncing. But I found out that occasionally it would break downloading larger files (mp3's) which would then get pushed back onto the server as a new 'version', corrupting the copy on all my machines.I've since switched to an app called FolderSync, which allows simple scheduled syncing with any old SSH server you have lying around, and quite a few cloud services. I now sync my SugarSync folders (which I still use on my windows pc's) to my phone through SSH, which is working perfectly sofar. (*knocks on wood*)

It's a shame SkyDrive wasn't included in the roundup. Right now it offers the most space, and the fact that it's owned and operated by Microsoft doesn't matter much at all. I actually got my account when it was 25GB, so that makes it my second largest cloud. I don't use it much because I didn't think they had an Android app, but they do, and it's as good as any of them.

Box.net is my biggest cloud at 50GB. I actually recommend not signing up with them. Seems like about once a year, they give out free 50GB accounts on signup if you use the iOS or Android app. It's never both, though. They'll do one first, and run that promo for a month or two, and then a little later it's the other one. 50GB is a lot of cloud, so it's worth waiting for.

SpiderOak is a non-starter for me. The only reason I pay attention to Dropbox and its measly 2GB (I refuse to milk my friends for referrals) is that so many apps use it. And I'm nowhere close to my limit anyway.

As for MediaFire, it should be noted that it won't hold your files for you. After so many days of inactivity, the file will be deleted. So it's fine for getting a file from device A to device B, but it's not a complete cloud service like the others. (However, even the lowest tier of paid accounts, the $1.50 a month, removes this restriction. And $18 a year is not terrible at all.)

Whoever downvoted the guy who said ES File Explorer needs to go get a cup of coffee. No, it's not cloud storage, per se. It's an Android file manager that can browse (e.g. download from or upload to) all the major clouds. So you still have the apps (unless you're hurting for space), but for raw file management, you never have to leave ES File Explorer, which is free, and just as good as (if not quite as pretty as) the best of Android's file managers.

SpiderOak uses web interface in which you send your keys to them to decrypt your files, server-side decryption, Wuala uses Java application that runs from the web interface so it is always client-side encryption and decryption.If you don't use the web interface at all, they are the same (as far as I know).

At those prices, you're better off buying a $60 router that does VPN (most cable/ADSL boxes don't, so you have to switch them back to dumb-modem mode, and supply your own router), and log-in remotely to your home media server.

You also avoid using "cloud" ... er .... "somebody else's computer" this way.

I feel like a broken record.

"cloud" = "somebody else's computer"

Often, somebody else doesn't care at all what you store, but more often, they want to look at your data and sell a "profile" of you to anyone willing to buy it.

At least if you are paying, your data probably isn't being used in that 2nd way. At least until some marketing VP decides it is an easy way to increase corporate profits. Just look at all the privacy policy changes that have backfired recently after public outcry.

I've been looking for suggestions for a cloud service that can sync client computers/mobile devices to a directory on a file server. The idea being for remote workers (which is everyone at the company) to be able to save things to their local drive and have them sync over to the file server (which in turn will sync down to all other users). I've been testing Cubby, and it does work, but periodically the file server side sync just disappears without any warning, so it is easy to go a week or two before anyone notices their files haven't been syncing back to the server.

Any suggestions on something that would do this, is secure, and also idiot proof?

No love for Google Drive? While not the same thing as a generic file sharing service, it's what I use the most for getting Office type documents between devices, and they just updated the Android client to give the ability to edit on the device.

The Ubuntu One client has, for the most part, been excellent. A decent gradual development of features, whilst preserving stability. Its automatic backup of photos, for example, was very nicely implemented.

The SpiderOak client had a rough start, but is now much more polished. If you use SpiderOak for secure backup, then it's kind of a no-brainer - it's simple and easy, and I've used it many times to get files I produced on my desktop down to my phone or tablet.

I have a Dropbox account, but must admit I don't use it much. Not because of the various security scares, but more because the sync-one-folder thing got tedious - having to symlink/junction point every folder I wanted to sync got tedious, so I gave up with them. A pity, as their client is quite nice.

I used to be very happy with SugarSync, especially the push-to-device syncing. But I found out that occasionally it would break downloading larger files (mp3's) which would then get pushed back onto the server as a new 'version', corrupting the copy on all my machines.

I quit using SugarSync because of a similar problem. When they added a "sync photos" feature to the Android client, it would randomly (so far as I could tell) update files' timestamps. I never lost any actual data, but seeing months-old photos jump to the front of my phone's Gallery app was disconcerting. It also made sorting by date impossible in the OS X Finder.

Spideroak is intriguing, since I'm a privacy nut, but honestly, Dropbox + Truecrypt seem good enough. I use Box + Truecrypt for a secondary cloud backup too, Google Drive for a few older Google Doc-based files I sometimes access... there's so much cloud storage I'm not using that I have access to like Skydrive and Asus Cloud... but what the hell, I might check out Wuala since it seems to be highly recommended here.

My one problem is that about a year ago, my corporate firewall has shut me out of all the well known sync services. I have to manually sync things on Dropbox's website using their old style upload features. I don't really care too much about synching things on my work machine anyway other than one of my Keepass dbs, so I haven't looked too much into a solution, but I wonder if one of the lesser known services like Wuala might be overlooked.

No love for Google Drive? While not the same thing as a generic file sharing service, it's what I use the most for getting Office type documents between devices, and they just updated the Android client to give the ability to edit on the device.

The article pretty much pointed out that everyone knows about Google Drive and Dropbox, so they're showing alternatives to those two services.

I've been using Dropbox for a long time, but recently mostly moved over to SkyDrive. The $10/year for 20GB is more than reasonable, plus I can use web versions of Office (which *mostly* work well with my OpenDocument formatted files), plus it pushes my pictures to my Xbox for easy viewing. Seems to meet my needs of storing picture and document files in an easily retrievable place.

Dropbox is still great. It seems to sync files on my desktop quicker when I make changes and TiBackup is integrated seemlessly. If it offered smaller plans, I might have continued using it more (I use about 15 GB and their cheapest is a 100 GB plan).

GoogleDocs just didn't play well with OpenDocument files when I tried it. And the Android document editor, frankly, sucked at the time. Syncing is probably easier now that Google Drive exists, but I don't have any reason to check them out at the moment.

No love for Google Drive? While not the same thing as a generic file sharing service, it's what I use the most for getting Office type documents between devices, and they just updated the Android client to give the ability to edit on the device.

I'll give Drive some love when someone tells me how in the Samuel Langhorn Hell you can transfer a file from the cloud to your mobile device. I tried and tried to figure out how to get a simple picture (or ringtone, or spreadsheet) from Drive to my device, and there's no way to do it that I can see.

True, there's "make available offline" but that only makes it available offline to Drive, not to the phone. It takes files, zips them and hides them at /storage/sdcard0/Android/data/com.google.android.apps.docs/files/pinned_docs_files_do_not_edit/(random string of numbers).

My biggest use for a cloud storage service is getting pictures off my phone and sending content back to it for access on the go, and Drive can't do that. Or I'm too much of a mallethead to figure it out. Either way, it stinks and I don't like it.

I actually use ES File Explorer to manage my local and cloud drives from my Android. Just last week though I happen to get a 15GB account from Box just by installing Astro File Manager (which I uninstalled after) Astro is good looking though I prefer the more complicated looking ES just because I've been used to it for so long.

So what I have now is Skydrive, Box, GDrive. No need for others at the moment.

@CrackedLCD: Never thought about that. I just tried to download a document, and it wouldn't work. It would open, but not save. Now what do you want to edit a document in if not Google Docs? And you can open with a third-party app, e.g. Kingsoft Office or one of the paid ones. And all the office suites (I assume; Kingsoft and QuickOffice can, at least) can browse Google Drive (or Dropbox, or a handful of the others). Google Drive can send images to QuickPic, which can copy them to another location. Not sure about music; I guess if you opened it with a music app that could copy files, you could do that.

@jimthing: If you pay for MEGA, is that a guarantee they won't delete your account? Because they either changed my password or deleted my account within hours of me creating it (and I had confirmed my email) so anything that I can actually log into can beat MEGA.

My experience with SpiderOak is very good. It allows me to sync/backup any folder in my computer. It backs up every version of my files, and deleted files can be found in its recycle bin. And, I like its "Zero Knowledge" privacy environment which is the most secure sync solution I could find so far. In addition, it works on all major operation systems available on the market. Regarding to deleted files, they can be removed from the recycle bin easily on the "VIEW" tab in SpiderOak.

If you sign up SpiderOak through the following link and we both get 1GB extra storage!http://goo.gl/QS1T7And, use the promo code "WorldBackupDay" to get extra 5GB for free. That is 6GB in total.